May 2013. Vol. 3, No.

3 ISSN2305-8269
International Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences
© 2012 EAAS & ARF. All rights reserved
www.eaas-journal.org

STRUCTURAL PROPERTIES OF RICE HUSK ASH CONCRETE.

Godwin A. Akeke, Maurice E. Ephraim, Akobo, I.Z.S and Joseph O. Ukpata.
Department of Civil Engineering, Cross River University of Technology, Calabar, Nigeria.

Abstract

This research was experimentally carried out to investigate the effects of introducing Rice Husk Ash
(RHA) as a Partial Replacement of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) on the Structural Properties of
Concrete. Rice Husk Ash which is an Agro-Waste and known to be a Super Pozzoland have been
used for mass concrete and found to have compressive strength ranging from 33-38.4N/mm2at
replacement percentages of 10-25% in a mix of 1:1.5:3. A further study was carried out on its
flexural properties to determine their moduli of rupture as well as its tensile strength characteristics
for the determination of cracking, the values obtained at 28days are 3, 2.5 and 2.4N/mm2 while the
tensile strength values are 1.94, 1.17 and 0.91N/mm2 at replacement percentages of 10%, 20% and
25%. This research has proved that RHA Concrete can be used as a Structural Concrete at suitable
replacement percentages. This research therefore is an investigation of the performance of the
concrete made of partially replacing OPC with RHA on the structural integrity and properties of
RHA concrete.

Keywords: Rice Husk Ash, Structural Properties and Concrete.

INTRODUCTION

which itself possess little or no cementing property,

This research is aimed at putting into effective use
Rice Hush Ash (RHA) a local additive which has
been investigated to be super pozzolanic in a good
proportion to reduce the high cost of structural
concrete. Rice Husk Ash (RHA) is an agricultural
waste product, and how to dispose of it is a
problem to waste mangers. While Concrete today
has assumed the position of the most widely used
building material globally. The most expensive
concrete material is the binder (cement) and if such
all-important expensive material is partially
replaced with more natural, local and affordable
material like RHA will not only take care of waste
management but will also reduce the problem of
high cost of concrete and housing.
There is an increasing importance to preserve the
environment in the present day world. RHA from
the parboiling plants is posing serious
environmental threat and ways are being thought of
to dispose them. This material is actually a super
pozzolan since it is rich in Silica and has about
85% to 90% Silica content.
A “pozzolan” is therefore defined as “a siliceous or
siliceous and aluminum material,
but will in a finely divided form and in the
presence of moisture chemically react with calcium
hydroxide at ordinary temperatures to form
compounds possessing cementite’s properties. A
good way of utilizing this material is to use it for
making “high performance concrete” which means
high workability and very high early strengths, or
consider high workability and long term durability
of the concrete.
Materials
Rice Husk Ash (RHA); Rice Husk was
burnt for approximately 48hrs in an open
air and uncontrolled burning process. The
temperature was in the range of 400-
6000C. The ash collected was sieved
through BS standard sieve size 75µm and
its colour was grey. Batching was done by
volume at replacement percentages of 10,
20, and 25%.
Cement
Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) was used
in which the composition and properties is
in compliance with the Nigerian
standard organization defined standard of
cement for concrete production.

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May 2013. Vol. 3, No. 3 ISSN2305-8269
International Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences
© 2012 EAAS & ARF. All rights reserved
www.eaas-journal.org

Aggregates The following tests were carried out in

The project work is restricted to sand
collected from the river. The sand was
collected to ensure that there was no
allowance for deleterious materials
contained in the sand.
In this research, granite of 20mm
maximum size was used. Proper
inspection was carried out to ensure that it
was free from deleterious materials.
Granite was gotten from zenith quarry in
Akamkpa Cross River state.
Water
Water plays an important role in concrete
production (mix) in that it starts the
reaction between the cement and the
aggregates. It helps in the hydration of the
mix. In this project, the water used was
Pipe borne water and free from
contaminants.
Method of Experiment
Concrete is a mixture of water, cement,
aggregate (coarse and fine) and admixture.
It is important that the constituent material
remain uniformly distributed within the
concrete mass during the various stages of
handling and that full compaction is
achieved, and making sure that the
characteristics of concrete which affect
full compaction like consistency, mobility
and compatibility are in conformity with
relevant codes of practice.
accordance with relevant BS Standards.
1. The aggregates were tested for physical
properties such as: specific gravity,
Particle distribution test and bulk density.
2. The fresh concrete was subjected to the
following tests.
(i) Slump
While the following properties were tested
in the hardened state of the concrete.
(i) Density test
(iii) Compressive strength test.
(iv) Flexural strength test
(v) Split tensile test.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Physical Properties of Rice Husk Ash (RHA);
Sand and Gravel
The following physical properties of
RHA, sand and aggregate were
investigated in the laboratory and the
results obtained from the specific gravity
test as shown below
Results of Specific Gravity
These results show that the specific
gravity of RHA varies from 1.5 to 1.56
with an average value of 1.55, while the
specific gravity of sand used had a
constant value of 1.52
Particle Size Distribution : The results of the
particle size distribution analysis carried out in this
research work are as shown bellow

Table 1a-Sieve Analysis of RHA (TM = 1500)

Sieve Size Weight % Retained % Passing

Retained
2.36 0 100
1.18 0 100
600 34 5.8 93.2
425 41 8.2 85
300 150 30 55
212 57 11.4 43.6
150 81 16.2 27.4
63 100 20.0 7.4
Pan 35 7.4 0

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May 2013. Vol. 3, No. 3 ISSN2305-8269
International Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences
© 2012 EAAS & ARF. All rights reserved
www.eaas-journal.org

Table 1b-Sieve Analysis of Sand (TM =500)

Sieve Size Weight % Retained % Passing

Retained
6.3 0 100
5.0 0 100
2.36 5 0.33 99.67
1.18 130 8.7 90.97
600 429 28.6 62.37
425 345 23.0 39.37
300 338 22.5 16.87
212 126 8.4 8.47
150 80 5.3 3.17
63 43 2.9 0.27
Pan 4 0.27 0

Table 1c-Sieve Analysis of Gravel 5-20 (TM=1485)

Sieve Size Weight % Retained % Passing

Retained
20 0 100
13 4 0.3 99.7
10 18 1.2 98.5
6.3 119 8 90.5
4.7 70 4.7 85.8
2.36 234 15.8 70.0
Pan 40 2.70 67.3

Table 1d-Sieve Analysis of Gravel 15-25 (TM=1660)

Sieve Size Weight % Retained % Passing

Retained
37 0 100
25 236 14.2 85.8
20 993 59.8 26.0
13 435 26.2 0
10 0 0 0
pan 0 0 0

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May 2013. Vol. 3, No. 3 ISSN2305-8269
International Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences
© 2012 EAAS & ARF. All rights reserved
www.eaas-journal.org

Bulk Density the European classification ENV 206:1992 having

the slump of 50-90 and by TRRL classification, the
The bulk densities of RHA, sand and the coarse workability is described as medium with
aggregate used was found to be 20, 45 and 65kg/m3 compacting factor of 0.90 and slump of 50 –
respectively. 100mm.

Workability (Slump) Density

The workability test results are presented in The density of RHA was investigated and results
Appendix IV. The workability test results show which are analyzed and presented as a ratio of the
that RHA concrete can be graded under S2 using mass to that of the volume are given below.
Table 1e. Density Values for Various RHA Concrete Mixes.

Age Percentage Replacement with RHA

10% 20% 25%
Average Densities 7 2038 1901 1948
of RHA Concrete in 14 2052 1875 1914
KN/m3 21 2064 1909 1937
28 2017 1950 1902
From the above results of density it can be seen that the density of RHA is in the same range for all replacement
levels. According to BS 877, it can be classified as light weight concrete.

Table 1f.The results of the compressive strength of RHA Concrete.

Age Percentage Replacement with RHA

10% 20% 25%
Average Compressive 7 12 11 10
strength N/mm2 14 14 13 12
21 18 18 14
28 22 20 19

Split Tension Test Results

The results of our investigations on the 28days RHA concrete are presented in Table 1g. below.
From the results it can be seen that the tensile strength results are similar at all replacement
percentages which is in line with the projections of the other researchers.

Table 1g below is the presentation of the results of the split tension test.

SN % Replacement Breaking Load N/mm2 Tensile Strength

N/mm2

1 10% 304738 1.94

2 20% 91500 1.165

3 25% 79500 0.91

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May 2013. Vol. 3, No. 3 ISSN2305-8269
International Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences
© 2012 EAAS & ARF. All rights reserved
www.eaas-journal.org

Flexural strength investigation

The flexural strength properties of RHA concrete was investigated in the laboratory, the results of this
investigation are presented in table 1h below

The flexural strength fb (in N/mm2) is given by

= .

Where, = the breaking load (in N)

d1 and d2 are the lateral dimensions of the cross-section (in mm)

L = the distance between the supporting rollers (in mm)

Table 1h- Flexural Strength Values of RHA Concrete at 1:11/2:3 mix

SN % Replacement Breaking Load N/mm2 Flexural Strength

N/mm2

1 10% 7000 3.0

2 20% 6000 2.5

3 25% 4800 2.4

CONCLUSION

From the experiments and analysis of good for structural concrete at 10% replacement
results of findings in this research work, level.
the following facts are established about
RHA Concrete. References

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May 2013. Vol. 3, No. 3 ISSN2305-8269
International Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences
© 2012 EAAS & ARF. All rights reserved
www.eaas-journal.org

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